How to Make Cake Pops or Cake Balls Three Ways: Traditionally cake pops are made with crumbled cake. I’ll show you how to make the traditional homemade cake pop along with using a silicone mold and donut holes. Cake pops are the perfect little party treat. They can either be placed on a stick or sitting on a tray as cake balls. These easy to make party treats and can be made in advance. Scroll down for all the details with a lot of helpful tips.

How to Make Traditional Cake Pops

• INGREDIENTS
  • 1 box cake mix of your choice
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) box pudding your choice of flavor
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup frosting (store bought or homemade)
  • 1 (12 ounce) bag candy melts (your choice of color)
  • toppings (nuts, sprinkles etc.)
• DIRECTIONS
  • Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray sheet cake pan with nonstick spray.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil.
  • Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
  • Pour into the prepared pan.
  • Bake35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.
  • Divide cake in half and freeze one half for future use.
  • Using your hands, crumble up the cake until no large pieces remain.
  • Add frosting, mixing with fingers until well combined.
    • FORM CAKE BALLS
      • Form into cake balls and chill until set, about 2 hours.
      • Small cake pops: 1 tablespoon-sized cake balls (each about 1 1/4 inch diameter) makes about 48 cake pops.
      • Medium cake pops: 2 tablespoons-sized cake balls (each about 1 1/2 inch diameter) makes about 24 cake pops.
      • Large cake pops: 3 tablespoons-sized cake balls (each about 1 3/4 inch diameter) makes about 16 cake pops.
    • COATING:
      • While cake balls are setting, melt Candy Melts candy according to package instructions. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into melted candy, then into set cake balls. Repeat with all cake balls, then let chill again until set, about 10 minutes. Reserve remaining melted candy. Dip cake pops, one at a time, into remaining melted candy. Tap lightly to remove excess. If needed, you can reheat the candy with some EZ Thin Dipping Aid or vegetable shortening to thin it out for easier dipping. Immediately cover with sprinkles or topping of choice, then transfer to craft foam. Repeat with remaining cake pops. Chill until set, about 10 to 15 minutes.

HOW TO STORE CAKE POPS WHILE THE CANDY IS HARDENING

ALSO LEARN HOW TO DECORATE PRETZELS AND MARSHMALLOW POPS

MY FAVORITE TOOL FOR MELTING CANDY

Vegetable Shortening VS Wilton EZ Thin Dipping Aid

How Far in Advance Can You Make Cake Pops?

A COMMON PROBLEM WITH USING A SILICONE MOLD OR DONUT HOLES

SILICONE MOLD CAKE POPS

Why are My Cake Pops Cracking?

If your candy shell is cracking, it’s mostly due to an extreme change in temperature (cold cake balls being dipped into hot candy). This can also happen with hot candy or chocolate being put into a cold refrigerator or freezer. To avoid cracking, let your cake balls warm up to room temperature a bit before dipping in warm candy or chocolate. Once dipped, let your cake pops sit at room temperature for 5 to 7 minutes before placing in the refrigerator or freezer so the candy has time to cool.

Why Do My Cake Pops Fall Off the Stick?

If your cake balls are falling off your treat stick, they could be too heavy due to size or adding too much frosting. To help ensure your cake balls stay, be sure to dip the stick in melted candy before inserting it into the cake ball. This hardened candy coating acts as a glue to hold the stick in place. If you think you’ve added too much frosting, add a little more cake to help even out the texture.

DONUT HOLE CAKE POPS

You can use other items not just lollipop sticks

FROSTING TO CAKE RATIO

When it comes to adding frosting to your cake, you want just enough to moisten it. This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re using a boxed cake mix, which is already pretty moist. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.

CAKE POP OR CAKE BALL IDEAS/RECIPES

Continue to Content

Traditional Cake Pops

Yield: 24 Medium Cake Pops (1½ inch diameter)

Easy to make party treat that can be made in advance and styled to match any decor.

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Ingredients

Traditional Cake Pop:

• 1 box cake mix of your choice
• 1 (3.4 ounce) box pudding your choice of flavor
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup frosting (store bought or homemade)
• 1 (12 ounce) bag candy melts (your choice of color)
• toppings (nuts, sprinkles etc.)

Silicone Mold Cake Pops:

• box cake mix PLUS ingredients listed on the box

Instructions

Traditional Cake Pops:

1. Preheat oven to 350℉. Spray sheet cake pan with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil.
3. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.
4. Pour into the prepared pan.
5. Bake35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.
7. Divide cake in half and freeze one half for future use.
8. Using your hands, crumble up the cake until no large pieces remain.
9. Add frosting, mixing with fingers until well combined.

Form Cake Balls:

1. Form into cake balls and chill until set, about 2 hours.

1. Small cake pops: 1 tablespoon-sized cake balls (each about 1 1/4 inch diameter) makes about 48 cake pops.
2. Medium cake pops: 2 tablespoons-sized cake balls (each about 1 1/2 inch diameter) makes about 24 cake pops.
3. Large cake pops: 3 tablespoons-sized cake balls (each about 1 3/4 inch diameter) makes about 16 cake pops.

Coating:

While cake balls are setting, melt Candy Melts candy according to package instructions. Dip the tip of each lollipop stick into melted candy, then into set cake balls. Repeat with all cake balls, then let chill again until set, about 10 minutes. Reserve remaining melted candy. Dip cake pops, one at a time, into remaining melted candy. Tap lightly to remove excess. If needed, you can reheat the candy with some EZ Thin Dipping Aid or vegetable shortening to thin it out for easier dipping. Immediately cover with sprinkles or topping of choice, then transfer to craft foam. Repeat with remaining cake pops. Chill until set, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Silicone Cake Pop Mold:

1. Make the cake mix according to the back of the cake mix box.
2. Spoon batter into cake ball wells, fill to the top.
3. Cover with silicone cake pop mold topper (the side with the hole on top).
4. Bake at 350° for 13 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the the center (through the hole) comes out clean.
5. Let cool for a minute.
6. Pop out of mold to cool completely.
7. Continue with the cake pop instructions and Decorate!
   

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